Bear Digest

Chicago Bears make surprise decision in first big batch of 53-man roster cuts

The Chicago Bears let one player go that fans thought did enough to make the team.
Bryan Perez|
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

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The Chicago Bears announced another big wave of player cuts ahead of Tuesday's 53-man roster deadline, and one name stood out as a surprise: Running back Ian Wheeler.

The state of the Bears' running back room isn't great. Aside from D'Andre Swift, Chicago's backs are a group of walking wounded. Kyle Monangai, Roschon Johnson, and Travis Homer are all dealing with injuries, and while all three could be healthy in time for Week 1, it's Wheeler who's been a reliable summer performer.

The former Howard star returned from a torn ACL last preseason to run for 100 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. He had his juice and burst back, and with so much uncertainty on the depth chart in front of him, it seemed like Wheeler did enough to earn a roster spot.

In the end, he didn't.

Chicago Bears running back Ian Wheeler (33) leaps into the end zone for a touchdown
Matt Marton-Imagn Images

So, what's next for the Chicago Bears running game?

"We're depleted a little bit in that area as you can see, and so, we got to find ways to get our guys the ball," Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said Monday. "That doesn't always have to be the running back; that can be a wideout, that can be a tight end, but we'll continue to try to get the balls and the ball in the hands of our playmakers."

Wheeler's departure likely clears the way for Roschon Johnson to make the team, which, at this point, qualifies as a surprise. Hopefully, the third-year power back is ready to finally make good on the expectations he joined the Bears with after serving mostly as Bijan Robinson's backup at Texas.

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Bryan Perez
BRYAN PEREZ

Bryan Perez founded and operated Bears Talk, a Chicago sports blog. Prior to that, he covered the Bears for USA Today’s Bears Wire and NBC Sports Chicago. In addition to his Chicago Bears coverage, Perez is a respected member of NFL Draft media and was a past winner of The Huddle's Mock Draft competition. Bryan's past life includes time as a Northeast scout for the CFL's Ottawa Redblacks.

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